CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri will induct five individuals as part of its 2025 Hall of Fame Class.
Steve Bieser (Baseball Coach/Player), Brandon Colbert (Track & Field), Paul McRoberts (Football), Blake Peiffer (Football) and Lindsay Zeiler (Cross Country/Track & Field) will be formally inducted on Friday, Jan. 16 at the Show Me Center. Banterra Bank will again serve as the presenting sponsor of this year's induction dinner and ceremony.
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Steve Bieser, Head Baseball Coach (2013-2016); Pitching Coach (2011-2012); Player (1988-1989)
Steve Bieser led Southeast Missouri to three consecutive Ohio Valley Conference championships and guided SEMO to a 2016 NCAA Regional appearance, its first since 2002. A two-time OVC Coach of the Year, Bieser won 35 or more games in each of his last three seasons with the Redhawks, a feat that had been accomplished only once before he took over the baseball program in 2013. He compiled a 138-97 record and turned in a .587 winning percentage in his time at SEMO, the best winning percentage among any head coach in program's NCAA Division I era. In 2016, Bieser celebrated a banner year when he earned his 100th career victory and opened OVC play with a perfect 12-0 record, SEMO's best start in program history. That season culminated in a regular-season OVC title, an OVC Tournament title and an NCAA Regional berth as the Redhawks qualified for the Starkville Regional at SEC champion Mississippi State. Prior to becoming head coach in 2013, Bieser was the pitching coach at SEMO from 2011-12 and carried the prowess of developing pitchers into his head coaching tenure. His most notable was left-hander Joey Lucchesi, who became the only Redhawk pitcher to win OVC Pitcher of the Year in back-to-back seasons. Lucchesi was drafted in the fourth round (114th overall pick) by the San Diego Padres. He also played with the New York Mets and is currently with the San Francisco Giants. SEMO had multiple draft picks with Bieser at the helm in 2016. Aside from his success on the field, academics was a hallmark of Bieser's program at SEMO. He mentored three Academic All-Americans, 10 Academic All-District picks, one OVC Scholar-Athlete, six OVC Medal of Honor recipients and 48 OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll selections. The Redhawks had at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average in all four years under his tutelage and grabbed one OVC Team Academic Award along the way. After a successful playing career at SEMO, Bieser was drafted in the 32nd round of the 1989 MLB Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies. He played 13 years as a professional with nine of those years coming at Triple-A or higher. He made his Major League debut on Apr. 1, 1987 with the New York Mets and played 60 career MLB games between the Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates, compiling a .250 career batting average and a .351 career on-base percentage. Bieser made his Major League debut as a catcher, but his versatility allowed him to play a variety of positions throughout his career. He closed his professional career with the Memphis Redbirds (St. Louis Cardinals Triple-A affiliate), where he guided the team to a Triple-A World Series in 2000. Bieser played every position on the field in his professional career. He was also the head coach at Missouri for seven seasons and is presently the head baseball coach at Jacksonville State.
Brandon Colbert established himself as a 10-time Ohio Valley Conference Champion during his impressive Southeast Missouri career. Colbert won the weight throw three times, the indoor shot put once and the hammer, discus and outdoor shot put on two occasions. He was a four-time OVC Field Athlete of the Year winning the outdoor award in 2007 and 2010, and the indoor honor in 2008 and 2011. Colbert qualified for the NCAA Regional in 2007 and 2009, and the NCAA West Preliminary in 2010 and 2011.
Paul McRoberts, Football (2012-2015); Basketball (2013-2014)
Paul McRoberts started all four of his years at Southeast Missouri as legitimately one of the best wide receivers in the Football Championship Subdivision. McRoberts garnered First-Team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors in each of his last two seasons at SEMO in 2014 and 2015. He became the first SEMO player invited to the Reese's Senior Bowl. After going undrafted, McRoberts signed with the Los Angeles Rams on May 4, 2016, as a free agent. He later played in two games with the Rams. McRoberts also played one season of NCAA Division I basketball with the Redhawks during the 2013-14 campaign. He saw action in 13 games off the bench and scored the first points of his career on a game-tying 3-pointer that sent SEMO's game to overtime in an 83-79 win over IU-Indy on Dec. 23, 2013.
Blake Peiffer, Football (2009-2012)
Blake Peiffer started every game at inside linebacker in each of his final two seasons at Southeast Missouri. Peiffer was named to the Phil Steele (Third-Team), Sports Network/Fathead.com (Second-Team, 2011; Third-Team, 2012) and Associated Press (Second-Team) All-America teams during his career. He was named the 2012 Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year and earned First-Team All-OVC honors as both a junior and senior. Peiffer had 359 career tackles, including a then single-season program record 151 in 2011. Blake is the son of Dan Peiffer who is also in the SEMO Athletics Hall of Fame.
Lindsay Zeiler, Cross Country/Track & Field (2002-2007)
An 11-time Ohio Valley Conference Champion, Lindsay Zeiler was named the 2002 OVC Cross Country Runner of the Year. Zeiler won titles in the indoor mile three times, 3000m twice, 1500m three times and distance medley relay on two occasions in addition to her cross country crown. She was a three-time NCAA Qualifier and was a member of seven different OVC Championship teams.
